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2021 Census for England and Wales to continue online

National Statistician, Jil Matheson, has today made her recommendation on the way forward for census and population statistics.

In summary the recommendation is:

• An online census of all households and communal establishments in
England and Wales in 2021 as a modern successor to the traditional,
paper-based decennial census. ONS recognises that special care would
need to be taken to support those who are unable to complete the
census online.

This would be combined with:

• Increased use of administrative data and surveys in order to enhance
the statistics from the 2021 Census and improve annual statistics
between censuses.

• Together these would make the best use of all available data
to provide the population statistics which England and Wales
require and offer a springboard to the greater use of
administrative data and annual surveys in the future.

• Further research is to be carried out over the coming months
and years to determine the most appropriate blend of methods
and data sources.

You can find the National Statistician’s recommendation and the response from the Sir Andrew Dilnot, Chair of the UK Statistics Authority here

The Government will respond in due course.

The consultation played a central role in informing our view of the best way forward. It strongly underlined the value to users of existing census data about small areas, about small populations and as part of the historical record. It also showed that users recognise the potential value of modernising our approach and making use of other sources. We feel the resulting recommendation of a mixed approach provides the best possible solution and a very positive base for the future.

The Office of National Statistics summary report on the consultation is also published today

Please contact ONS at beyond2011@ons.gov.uk if you have any questions or wish to discuss further.